Hoop Assembly

ABSTRACT

A hoop assembly is provided. The hoop assembly is formed as a basketball hoop or similar having a plurality of items such as food, toys, treats, and the like attached the hoop and extending into an inside area defined by the hoop. The plurality of items are removably connected to the hoop such that, when a ball like a basketball is shot through the hoop or otherwise impacts the hoop, one or more of the plurality of items can be disconnected and fall from the hoop to the ground, allowing the player and nearby people to gather the items.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a hoop device and assemblyand games to play using it. More particularly the present disclosurerelates to a hoop assembly having items such as treats, toys, or thelike secured to the hoop and facing inward into the hoop. Upon contact,these treats, toys, or the like may be released from the hoop.

Description of Related Art

Piñatas are common and popular party games where players are blindfoldedand try to swing a stick at the piñata which is filled with candy,treats, toys, or other desirable items. These games are satisfactory,but have not been improved on or modified in many many years.

Therefore, what is needed is a system which can incorporate the conceptof dropping or dispersing candy, treats, toys, or other desirable itemsin a new manner to create an enjoyable and unique game.

SUMMARY

The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases,interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem,and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.

In one aspect, a hoop assembly is provided. The hoop assembly is formedof a basketball hoop defining an inside of the hoop. A plurality ofitems are connected to the hoop and extend into the area defined by theinside of the hoop. In operation, upon a passing of a ball through thehoop, one of the plurality of items may be disconnected by a forceapplied to it by the ball, causing the item to fall from the hoop. Theitem or items can then be gathered by the shooter of the ball, or byother players nearby.

In another aspect, a sleeve for connection to a basketball hoop to forma hoop assembly is provided. The sleeve is formed as a full or partialcircular shape, which can be connected to a basketball hoop, for exampleover a top of or around the outside of the basketball hoop. A pluralityof items are connected to the sleeve and extend into an area defined byan inside of the sleeve. In operation, upon a passing of a ball throughthe inside of the sleeve (which is also the inside of the hoop), one ofthe plurality of items may be disconnected by a force applied to it bythe ball, causing the item to fall from the hoop. The item or items canthen be gathered by the shooter of the ball, or by other players nearby.

In yet another aspect, a method of use of a hoop assembly is provided.The method involves attaching a plurality of items to an inside of ahoop, forming a hoop assembly. A ball may be shot through the hoop. Asthe ball passes through the inside of the hoop it may contact at leastone of the plurality of items, and this contact force may cause theitem(s) to be disconnected from the hoop, causing it to fall to theground. In another embodiment, an item or items may even be disconnectedby a direct hit of the ball on the edge or side of the hoop, causing thehoop to shake and potentially disconnecting one or more items. The itemor items can then be gathered by the shooter of the ball, or by otherplayers nearby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective of one embodiment of the hoop in use.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective of another embodiment of the hoop in use.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective of still another embodiment of the hoop inuse.

FIG. 4 provides a view of an embodiment of the hoop of the presentdisclosure operable to connect to an existing basketball hoop.

FIG. 5 provides a view of an embodiment of a clip operable to connect toa hoop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and does not represent the only forms in which thepresent disclosure may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Generally, the present disclosure concerns a system for positioningitems such as candy, other packaged food, toys, treats or the like on oradjacent to the inside perimeter of a basketball or similar hoop. Theitems are removable upon the application of a force, such as that of thebasketball going through the hoop and contacting the items or by a ballhitting and rattling the hoop. As such, the system allows players toshoot a ball through the hoop to disconnect the items. The items maythen fall, allowing them to be picked up by other participants, similarto how candy falls from a piñata. In some commercial embodiments, theinvention may be presented as a kit or package containing the requireditems, including at least one of a hoop or rim, items, connectors,and/or a ball. In other embodiments, the invention may include variousimplementations and operations, such as the assembly in place on abasketball hoop, connectable to a basketball hoop, connectable toanother surface or area to form the hoop assembly, and the like, withoutstraying from the scope of this invention.

In system may secure items including, but not limited to candy, otherpackaged food, toys, and treats, in packages or not, hereinafterreferred to as “items.” These items may be secured to the hoop in anymanner so that they are held in position against gravity, but upon asufficient impact like that of the impact of a ball, they will bereleased. Examples of ways that the item can be connected to the hoopinclude, but are not limited to, adhesives, clips, clamps, ties, andsnaps.

The hoop of the assembly may be any circular or semicircular hoop. Thehoop may be the basketball hoop itself, or may be a sleeve connectableto an existing basketball hoop. In varying embodiments, the hoopassembly may be implemented as a connector system for use with existinghoops and items. Or, the hoop assembly may be implemented as a standalong hoop with items pre-secured thereto, which can then be mounted asdesired. In other embodiments, the hoop assembly may have the itemspre-secured, and the hoop can be connectable to an existing basketballhoop. Of course, other implementations and variations may also beemployed without straying from the scope of this invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the hoop assembly is provided.The hoop 10 has a number of items, shown here as chips 17 and candy 16attached. The items 16, 17, are connected to the hoop 10 by a clipconnector 15. The items 16, 17 are held to the hoop 10 against gravity,but can be released upon the application of force from a ball 13 passingthrough the inside 14 of the hoop 10. In operation, when a player shootsthe ball 13 through the inside 14 of the hoop 10, or even in certaininstances if the ball hits the inside of the hoop or impacts the hoop,one or more item 16, 17, may be disconnected. These items fall from thehoop 10 by being released from the clip 15 or adhesive 19, through net11, and to the surface below the hoop 10. Players can then gather theseitems to be enjoyed such as at a party. It should be understood that theconnection between the items 16, 17, and hoop 10 may be by anyconnection, and need not be limited to clips as noted above. Indeed,connector 15 may be any structure or material capable of removablyjoining the item to the hoop. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 1,the hoop 10 has a base 12 which anchors the hoop 10 to a surface orsupport. In this view, the hoop system has a sleeve 18 which slips overat least a part of the existing hoop. In the embodiment shown, thesleeve goes around the whole hoop, but in other embodiments, it may onlycover part, such as a front half, rear half, rear third, front third,and the like. The sleeve 18 is formed of a rear flange and arms whichextend along the sides of the hoop. The sleeve has an open bottomchannel which aligns with the hoop so as to fit over it. An adhesivestrip 19 extends along at least part of the edge of the sleeve 18allowing items such as candy 16 or snacks 17 to be attached directly tothe sleeve. Connectors, shown here as clips 15, are also attached to thesleeve 18 directly. Further, standalone clips 15 can be used in additionto the sleeve 18 of this embodiment. The base 12 is shown here as atraditional hoop mount to connect to a backboard is applied to the base12 allowing the hoop 10 to attach to a surface such as a wall, board,and the like. In other embodiments, of course, other connections for thebase may be used, such as adhesive, hook, clamps, connectors such asscrews/bolts/nails, and the like, so as to connect the hoop 10 to manydifferent surfaces such as existing basketball hoops, whether toys orofficial, doors, chairs, walls, furniture, and the like, withoutstraying from the scope of this invention. In use, a player can placethe hoop system sleeve 18 and optional clips 15 on the existing hoop,and then play as desired to shoot the ball 13 through the hoop 10 todislodge items 16 and/or 17.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the hoop assembly in use. Here, aplayer has shot a ball 13 through the inside 14 of the hoop 10. Thisball 13 has disconnected item 16, which falls through the net 11 towardsthe ground to be picked up by the player or other nearby people. Thehoop assembly of this embodiment is employed on a traditional basketballhoop having a post 22, and backboard 21. The items 16, 17, are connectedto the existing basketball hoop 10 by connector 15, which may beadhesive tape, clips, hooks, and the like.

FIG. 3 provides a view of an embodiment of the hoop assembly employed ona pool basketball hoop. Here, pool toys 33 are attached to the inside ofthe hoop 10 by connector 15, examples of which are provided herein. Thepool hoop assembly has a post 32, which may be fixed, movable, or mayfloat. The pool hoop assembly also has an optional backboard 31. In use,a ball passing through the inside of the hoop 10 may knock anddisconnect the pool toys 33, which may sink or float in the pool 34 andbe recovered by the person who shot the ball, or nearby players.

FIG. 4 provides a view of a hoop assembly which may be attached to anexisting basketball hoop. Here, the body is formed as a sleeve 41 whichhas a partial circular shape to cover part of a basketball hoop. Thesleeve 41 may be designed to hook over or otherwise connect to theexisting basketball hoop via, for example, hooks 42. In otherembodiments, other structures may be used to connect the sleeve 41 tothe hoop, such as a U shaped groove in a bottom of the sleeve 41 to fitover and surround the hoop, clasps, clips, adhesive, and the like.Similar to other embodiments, items 16 are connected to the sleeve 41via connectors 15 which may vary as described in other examples herein.

FIG. 5 provides a view of one embodiment of a connector 15 of thepresent disclosure. Here, the connector 15 has a body, in thisembodiment a flexible strap 52. The body may be otherwise structured,and may be rigid, long, or short. A clip 51 is at one end of the bodyand is sized to clip over a standard sized basketball hoop. At anotherend of the body is a clamp 53 such as an alligator clip. This clamp 53is biased in a closed position and can be opened. The clamp 53 isconnected to item 16, shown as a bag of candy. As such, the connector ofthis embodiment can convert a traditional or existing basketball hoopinto the hoop assembly of this disclosure. Other connectorconfigurations may be used for other types of hoops such as small scaleplay-hoops and door or wall mounted hoops. In some cases, the clip 51may be replaced with a slip knot loop such that the strap 52 may be slipconnected to the hoop and then the clamp 53. In other embodiments, theclip 51 may be replaced with a clamp, adhesive, snap connectors,buttons, or Velcro connectors to wrap about the hoop, and the like.

While several variations of the present disclosure have been illustratedby way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparentthat further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scopeof the present disclosure, or the inventive concept thereof. However, itis to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptationsare within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and areinclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as setforth.

1. A system comprising: a basketball hoop defining an inside of thehoop; a sleeve having a partial circular shape, the sleeve connectableto the basketball hoop; and a plurality of items connected to the sleeveand extending into an area defined by the inside of the hoop, whereineach of the plurality of items is connected to the sleeve by a connectorhaving a flexible strap attached to the hoop and a clamp attached to theitem and to the flexible strap; wherein upon a passing of a ball throughthe hoop, one of the plurality of items is disconnected by a forceapplied to it by the ball, causing the item to fall from the hoop;wherein the plurality of items comprise a plurality of packaged foods.2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a base connected to thehoop, the base having a flat surface to connect the hoop to a surface.3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of theplurality of items is connected to the hoop by an adhesive. 6.(canceled)
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality ofitems is connected to the hoop by a connector having a clip connected tothe hoop and connected to a flexible strap, and a clamp attached to theitem and to the flexible strap.
 8. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising a net.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the hoop ispositioned over a pool, and wherein the plurality of items are aplurality of pool toys.
 10. A sleeve for connection to a basketball hoopto form a hoop assembly comprising: a sleeve having a partial circularshape, the sleeve connectable to a basketball hoop; an item connected tothe sleeve and extending into an area defined by an inside of thesleeve; wherein upon a passing of a ball through the basketball hoop,the item may be disconnect by a force applied to it by the ball, causingthe item to fall from the sleeve.
 11. The sleeve for connection to abasketball hoop to form a hoop assembly of claim 10 further comprising aplurality of items, wherein the plurality of items are food items. 12.The sleeve for connection to a basketball hoop to form a hoop assemblyof claim 10 further comprising a plurality of items, wherein each of theplurality of items is connected to the sleeve by an adhesive.
 13. Thesleeve for connection to a basketball hoop to form a hoop assembly ofclaim 10 further comprising a plurality of items, wherein each of theplurality of items is connected to the sleeve by a connector having aflexible strap attached to the sleeve, and a clamp attached to the itemand to the flexible strap.
 14. The sleeve for connection to a basketballhoop to form a hoop assembly of claim 10 wherein the sleeve defines adownward facing channel sized to receive the basketball hoop.
 15. Thesleeve for connection to a basketball hoop to form a hoop assembly ofclaim 10 further comprising a plurality of hooks extending from thesleeve, each of the plurality of hooks engagable with the hoop.
 16. Akit for forming a hoop assembly using a basketball hoop comprising thesleeve of claim 10, and a ball.
 17. The kit of claim 16 wherein theplurality of items is a plurality of food items.
 18. (canceled) 19.(canceled)
 20. (canceled)